It’s confession time!

Historically, I suck at asking for help.

For the longest time, it didn’t feel like a problem. I’d tell myself to justify not asking for help, like:

• It’ll take me longer to teach someone else what to do than to do it myself
• Someone else won’t do it the way I want it done
• If I ask for help, people will think I’m weak or incapable

It’s easy to find myself in this trap of not asking for help.

However, the impact of not asking for help can be significant.

For example, I beat myself up because I can’t figure something out. Or, I might be going in circles looking for new ideas yet stuck with my same-old ideas.

All of this leads to working long hours, feeling exhausted, and doubting myself. If left unchecked, it will lead to burnout.

Asking for help is one of the most powerful steps someone can take toward success.

The problem is, in many corporate cultures, it’s not safe to ask for help.

Asking for help is seen as a weakness. I once had a manager who believed if you had to ask for help, he was doing your job, so he didn’t need you.

So, people would struggle endlessly with problems or in coming up with new ideas. The impact of this manager’s beliefs had a significant detrimental effect on what the team could accomplish.

(Needless to say, I didn’t work for this manager for long)

In the coming week, find the opportunity to ask others for help. Just notice the impact of their help in what you’re trying to accomplish.

And, if you’re the team leader, ask your team for help on a problem you’ve been trying to solve. You will be amazed by how many ideas your team will have for you.

You never know how much you will accomplish by asking for help.

You’ve got this.